Officers and Suspect Involved in May 17 Shooting Incident Named

On May 17, 2016 two police officers from the Arcata Police Department were involved in an incident that resulted in the shooting of 26-year-old Joshua Adelynia Hoffman of San Diego. Mr. Hoffman sustained four gunshot wounds. He is currently in critical but stable condition at a local hospital.

Arcata Police Officer Matthew O’Donovan, hired by APD in 2012 discharged his taser during the incident and Arcata Police Officer Don Arminio, hired by APD in 2008 discharged his firearm during the incident.

As is standard protocol, both police officers have been placed on administrative leave.

The shooting remains under investigation by the Humboldt County Critical Incident Response Team.

Anyone with information about this case is encouraged to contact the Arcata Police Department at 822-2428.

10 comments

Another reason to avoid Arcata. Not going to pay sales tax to the city to pay cops to shoot someone waving a stick.
That wooden stick was really just a bit longer than a drumstick (not from a bird, from a drummer). Don’t wave anything in the air if you’re in Arcata! Especially if you’re drunk and acting a fool.

I guess now there’s nowhere besides north and south of both cities where you are not likely to get shot by police, Eureka came in within the top 5 cities in CA where you are most likely to be shot by police. The study was reported by KMUD and is available online. Will Arcata be next????
4 shots is ridiculous, esp to the abdomen.
If 2 cops can’t handle a guy waving things at them then I don’t trust them to protect me.

Screw Arcata! Don’t shop there unless you want to support shootings of folks holding non-lethal weapons. Hope that cop gets fired. As said by others theres way too many cops from LA on the APD, would be interesting to know if mr.triggerhappy came from there.

[edit] From all reports including citizen witnesses and video, the officers followed the protocol of continuation of threat. From verbal commands to taser before having to shoot. If you continue to be a threat and charge an officer after all this you will be shot and damn lucky if you live!

I think it’s totally ridiculous that people are bashing these officers! They have a tough job, and I for one am happy that we have some great officers on our police force; including both of these officers!!! When anyone charges toward an officer, they have to know that the possibility of getting shot is DEFINITELY LIKELY. Any one that harms another person has to deal with that; but they also need to know that people like me support their decision to protect themselves and to be able to go home to their family! These two officers did what was necessary and I stand by that!
Honestly, wouldn’t you have done the same if you were in their situation? I know I would’ve!
Way to go APD; keeping us safe, even when it can be dangerous to you! THANK YOU!!!

Maybe I missed something? People are praising the cops for shooting the scary dangerous man but…did the scary dangerous man actually hurt anybody? Did he hit somebody? I’m missing that part of the story. Please somebody tell me he hit somebody and wouldn’t stop and that’s why he got shot. Okay?